U.S. Military Citizenship Naturalizations Highlight Growing Diversity

Our reporter

Over the past five years, more than 52,000 military service members from various parts of the world have been granted U.S. citizenship, showcasing the diversity within the ranks of the U.S. armed forces.

According to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), individuals born in the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana accounted for the largest share of these naturalizations, making up over 38% of the total since 2020. 

 

The Philippines led the numbers with 5,630 naturalized service members, followed by Jamaica (5,420), Mexico (3,670), and Nigeria (3,270). Meanwhile, service members from Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea collectively contributed an additional 16% of military naturalizations during this period. 

 

Nigerian-born service members have experienced a notable increase in naturalizations over the years. In 2020, 340 Nigerians were naturalised, a figure that has steadily risen to 930 in 2024, reflecting the growing contributions of Nigerian nationals within the U.S. military. 

 

The report also highlighted branch-specific contributions, revealing that 60% of all military naturalizations occurred within the Army, including the National Guard and Reserves. The Navy accounted for 20.4%, the Air Force 10.6%, and the Marine Corps 6.6%, while the Coast Guard comprised less than 1%. 

 

Demographic trends shed light on the age and gender distribution of naturalized service members. The median age for naturalization was 27 years, with half of the individuals aged between 22 and 30. Approximately 17% were aged 21 or younger, while nearly 5% were over 40. Additionally, men constituted 73% of all naturalized service members, although the proportion of women has shown a gradual increase in recent years. 

 

The steady rise in military naturalizations reflects the critical role played by immigrant service members in strengthening U.S. military operations while providing a pathway to citizenship for those who serve.